Following successful attainment of the FA Charter Standard for quality, the Ilkley AFC and Juniors is continuing to push forwards with club development and hopes are high that dedicated football club facilities will be available in the near future.

Discussions over the development of football club facilities are at an advanced stage with Bradford MDC, and club officials have held meetings with the regional manager for the Football Foundation to explore financial support for proposed developments.

Should the club gain this support, future developments could include girls and women's football, over 40s football, football for disabled players, and the provision of FA coach education courses in Ilkley.

The continuation of club and senior team sponsorship by Booth's Supermarket has enabled longer term planning, and the football club continues to attract new players young and old. The two senior teams are currently top of their respective Harrogate Senior Leagues and the junior teams, from U-17s down to U-7s, continue to provide high quality coaching and competition for the younger players.

In the 2002-3 season, the two Ilkley AFC senior teams have demonstrated the value of developing local talent. Both teams contain several young players who have grown through the ranks of Ilkley Juniors football.

A measure of the success of this development was seen in the first team's deserved victory over Guiseley Reserves in the Wharfedale Challenge Cup and the subsequent progression to a semi-final game against Horsforth St Margaret's on Saturday, January 18.

Meanhwhile, the Ilkley Reserve team is seeking its second consecutive promotion in the Harrogate League after enjoying similar success as Ilkley Youth team in the Craven League.

l On Saturday, Ilkley AFC first team are away at Harold Styans (Kick-off 2pm players meet at the swimming pool at 12.30pm). The Reserve team host Harlow Hill (Kick-off 2pm and players should meet at the Grammar School fields at 12.45pm).